The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-05-05
The 1887 Tobacco Planting.
(Cincinnati Tobacco Journal I

As the season advances it appears as
if tobacco planters in general are
showing rare good sense in going very
slow with planting, and while it is not
absolutely certain that a short crop
will be harvested this year, our infor
nation points to the probability of
such being the result. Of course, the
season appears somewhat backward in
most of the Southern States, and there
is yet time for planters to rush foolishly
in and plant large acreages, but there
is a remarkable lack of enthusiasm and
interest upon the part of all planters,
and when this is lacking there is no in
centive to active efforts. Prices for
the raw leaf continue as discouraging
as ever, and stocks appear to decline
very slowly, and these are sufficient
cues for all intelligent planters by
which to regulate the 1887 planting.
What tobacco is grown this year
should be given special attention by
every planter, for quality crop is the
only hope for improved values. Even
if the crop is considerably short, but
largely of the low grades, no general
improvement in prices can be expected.
1t is only by raising the character of
the crop that any respect will be had
for it, just as the man who does not
properly protect his character suffers
largely by the lack of respect shown
him by other men. With a moderate
sized crop of average good quality in
1887 and 1888 tobacco can be eX-
pected to obtain something like the
.old" values. There is enough trash
and common lugs and leaf IN stock in
the principal markets, and held by
planters and shippers, to supply the
ordinary demands Of the trade for
couple of years, and unless these grades
are but very slightly augmented by the
1887 crop the aggravation will con-
tinue.
The Virginia and North Carolina
planters seem as determined as their
Western brethren to 'sCut the crop,
and they have really the most reason
for this, as they are compelled to invest
largely of their funds in commercial
fertilizers, and run the risk of serious
loss should the crop by any providen-
tal causes be destroyed or prove a
failure, while the Western planters use
sparingly Of such plant nourlshment,
most of them having either fertile
lands, requiring little manure, or plen-
ty of cattle which give them at very
slight cost a very nourishing plant
food. Yet, present prices are entirely
too low for the Western planter, es-
pecially for White Burley, (Which forms
a large proportion of the Western crop
and large portion Of the reduction IN
the acreage in the West is likely to be
in the White Burley section, as the
prices for this type have generally been
less remunerative than prices of any
other type grown in the West.
In the cigar leaf States nearly the
same conditions prevail, although
prices have uot been quite as low as IN
the leaf States, but when the extra ex-
pense of fertillzing in the East, and
the greater care required in the hand
ling and curing of this class of tobacco
are taken into consideration, prices are
no more encouraging than in the leaf
States. Besides, the higher grades OF
cigar leaf have to compete with foreign
grown tobacco, for which manufac-
turers seem to have a prediction,
and they will only use the domestic
growth for wrappers when they can
get it at prices far below the foreign
growths. Hence, growers argue that
possibly one or two short crops may
bring about better results, and seem
disposed to govern their course accord :
ingIy.